Step 5: Chemotherapy before CAR-T cell therapy
You will get lymphodepleting chemotherapy before your CAR-T cell infusion.
You will get chemotherapy as an outpatient in the C7 Day Hospital. However, if your doctor decides, you may receive it as an inpatient on the C7 Oncology Unit at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre.
The lymphodepleting chemotherapy is given to make your immune system weak, which will help the CAR T-cells stay in your body and target the cancer cells.
The lymphodepleting chemotherapy will be given daily through your central line for three days and each treatment will take around two to three hours.
The two types of chemotherapy you will receive are Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide.
You will be given premedication before your infusion to help reduce possible side effects such as nausea and vomiting from the chemotherapy.
You may also be given IV fluids to help flush the chemotherapy out of your system.
Possible side effects from chemotherapy include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Increased risk of bleeding (due to low platelet count)
- Increased risk of infection (due to low white blood cells)
- Temporary hair loss
- Fever and/or chills
- Fatigue
- Mouth sores
- Diarrhea
During your chemotherapy infusion, you can:
- Listen to music (please use headphones)
- Watch shows/movies on your mobile device (please use headphones)
- Use the bathroom (you will have to bring the infusion pole with you)
- Drink fluids and eat snacks that you have brought)
- Talk on the phone (please be respectful of the patients around you)
